Help your doctor avoid mistakes - Asking these 10 questions could save your life.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D.

We have known for a long time that hospitals can be dangerous places. Medications can get mixed up, infections can spread, procedures can be performed in error. Fortunately, most mistakes do not lead to serous consequences. On occasion, mistakes can be devastating.

While researchers and bureaucrats debate the exact extent and nature of medical errors, patients can help reduce errors by getting actively involved. These 10 questions may help:

Can we talk now? Speak with your doctor before you go to the hospital. As simple as this may sound, we often overlook this very important step.

What tests will be done? Knowing this prepares you for blood work, X-rays and other necessary procedures, while alerting you to tests you should not undergo.

Which drugs will I receive? Medication mistakes make up a significant percentage of hospital errors. Reduce the risk by having your doctor give you a list of drugs appropriate for you.

Which doctor will oversee my care in the hospital? Even though you will get lots of specialty care when you're in the hospital, you still should expect just one physician to be in charge of your hospital stay. That way, recommendations made by the specialists will be coordinated by one individual.

Do I need nursing checks at night? Unless told not to, the nursing staff is duty-bound to check your "vital signs" throughout the night. This check is extremely important for many patients, but for others it's an unnecessary and unwelcome intrusion into sleep. Ask your doctor whether you need to be awakened at night for routine checks. Also, ask your doctor to pre-approve any drugs you might need for sleep, constipation, or pain; that way you won't need to wait while nurses get an "okay" to give you the medicine.

Do you know me? When staff members come to your room for blood tests or to take you somewhere, make sure they check your wristband. Having each staff member check that you are the right patient for medical procedures is important.

Have you washed your hands? Occasionally, busy doctors and nurses forget to wash up between patients, a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections. Politely asking if staffers washed their hands before handling your IV shouldn't be seen as insulting - but as protecting your health!

Am I ready to be hospitalized? Over-the-counter medications and supplements can have adverse effects on other medicines, test results, and even surgery. For example, aspirin is a blood thinner; so it should be discontinued at least one week before elective surgery. Similarly, certain dietary supplements (vitamin E, garlic and ginkgo biloba) can have a blood-thinning effect that should be avoided before surgery. All supplements probably should be discontinued a few weeks before surgery. It is absolutely essential that your physician knows about all your OTC drugs and supplements.

Are you supposed to cut there? Everybody has heard the horror stories of patients who get the wrong body part operated on. Although it rarely occurs, it is devastating when it happens. When I was in med school, one patient preparing for surgery on his left leg wrote "wrong leg!" all over his right leg with a marker, to help the doctors focus their efforts on the appropriate extremity!

Can I have elective surgery in the middle of the week? It's nice to be able to recover from an operation over the weekend, but keep in mind that hospitals are not fully staffed on the weekend. Also, surgeries scheduled for Mondays often are moved back or cancelled because of weekend emergencies. To avoid those problems, schedule surgery for midweek.

One of medicine's most basic premises is "first, do no harm." Active patients help ensure this tenet is followed. Being involved in your own care signals your doctor that you want the best for your health. I love it when patients have done their homework: it makes my job easier!

Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is the medical director of Cooper Wellness Program at the renowned Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. He is also the vice president and associate medical director of Cooper Clinic. His medical practice focuses on health maintenance and disease prevention through physical fitness and proper nutrition. In June 2002, Dr. Mitchell was appointed by President Bush to serve on The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

An active researcher and author, he has published dozens of studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals and serves as both a columnist and medical editor for USA Weekend, which appears in 600 newspapers nationwide and has a circulation of more than 46 million readers. He is co-author of the book Fit to Lead. In addition to his writing, he also lectures extensively to both lay and scientific groups.

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